Zero waste stores are slowly popping up in places such as New York City, USA, Vancouver, Canada and now Devon, UK. These Mom & Pop stores are serving customers that tend to search for a more eco-friendly option in their local grocery story. Apparently business is booming for these shops as the owners of the shop in Devon say they are getting people that are not considered traditionally eco-friendly.

A recent article in the Guardian asks the question: Why Aren't Major Grocery Chains offering a zero-waste option? Their customers are wondering the same thing. They wonder why a grocery store that is based on offering a number of product options do not offer a zero waste option. Instead, some grocery stores offer products such as clementines that are already peeled in a plastic container, individually. Does that really make sense? Not to me it doesn't.

Listen to the episode to get the full details. 

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A listener requested that I discuss Marine Career topics so I decided to look at some Facebook Groups for some insight on what advice new graduates and early career conservationists were seeking. I am a part of Marine Biologists Network and Job Postings Facebook Group where many of the members seek career advice on a daily basis.

Many of the questions involve seeking out graduate work. Some people ask for advice on schools and others ask for advice on topics. 

My biggest response is to tell them that their grad work should provide them with the experience and skills that will help them in their career. 

Check out my advice by listening to this episode.

Do you agree with my advice? Do you have something to add? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Dr. Edd Hind-Ozan joins me today to discuss the US Shutdown on his weekly segment called "This Week In Marine Social Science." 

The shutdown is happening in the US because the US Federal Government cannot agree on how to fund the government; therefore, 800,000 federal employees do not get paid during the shutdown. 

The bad part is that people have to worry about paying their bills. The other bad part is that people can't use government services such as museums that are federally operated. The Smithsonian-Marine Section is a place where people go to relax according to a new article. The closure could cause people to have the blues because it's not open. 

Edd and I discuss the problems this could have on the mental health of people affected and not affected by the shutdown.

What government services do you miss during the shutdown? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Nick Wehner joins me on the podcast to discuss Open Access papers and the challenge of getting more authors to upload their papers to Open Access databases such as MarXiv for Marine Conservation papers. 

Nick and I discuss the comparison of success rates of authors agreeing to share their papers in open access databases via email. You will be surprised at the rate!

We also talk about a weird thing that Pay Wall companies do with citation. 

Find out more by listening to the episode.

Do you have concerns about sharing your papers on Open Access Databases such as MarXiv? Share your thoughts in our Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Florida Governor, Ron Desantis (Republican), took over the office at the beginning of 2019. Many Floridians and onlookers were afraid of the governor's dismissal of Climate Change during his campaign; however, his new policies to protect water quality has surprised many critics. 

Desantis has earmarked 2.5 billions dollars for water quality monitoring programs throughout the state, establish a resiliency office, establish a task force to take on the blue-green algae problem, and a 17,000-acre everglades reservoir in farm fields south of Lake Okeechobee. 

More details on the episode.

Do you like what the Governor is doing? Do you think it's all smoke and mirrors? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Brooke Tully joins the podcast for her segment of "What's Happening In Conservation Marketing This Week?" 

On today's episode, Brooke and I explore the notion that people don't change because why should they?! Everyone is being asked so much these days from being asked to be healthier to buying eco-friendly products to save the planet. There are some people who are tired of being asked to change all of the time. Why should they change? Brooke has some answers. 

Check out the episode for Brooke's solutions. 

Why do you change your behaviour? Or better yet, why don't you change your behaviour? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group:
http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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As I consumed myself with the issue I discussed on the previous episode regarding Ocean Ramsay Swimming with Sharks and the controversy that it caused throughout the internet, I witnessed the attack on science by her followers. Many of Ramsay's supporters questioning the value of science in conservation as compared to science contributions. Attacking science has become normal; however, it must stop.

I discuss how Marine Conservation is a field that includes scientists and conservationists in this episode. Both parties must work together, but they must do things the proper way. It seems that swimming with sharks and touching them has brought a divide among scientists and activists.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Share them in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

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Ocean Ramsay is an Advocate known for free diving with iconic Ocean Animals such as sharks. Her uniqueness is that she touches the sharks in her pictures and images. The point of touching the sharks is to show that they are gentle animals and not the "human-killing" machines in the movies.

There is a recent viral set of videos of Ocean Ramsay swimming and laying her hand gently on a massive Great White Shark that was feeding on a whale carcass. The first video shows Ocean Ramsay swimming by herself with the shark making it seem very peaceful. However, the second video was a behind-the-scenes look at reality. There were numerous people swimming around the shark making it swim quite hectic. 

Nothing bad happened to the shark or the people around it. 

Scientists like myself, David Shiffman and many others spoke out about the video because of the touching of the shark. There is a saying among divers that you should not touch underwater life unless you have. In fact, PADI teaches the same lesson in there Beginner Open Water SCUBA Certification Course. 

Touching animals while swimming is a controversial topic. Some people say it is better than tagging sharks because touching does not hurt them. Firstly, that saying is not true. Secondly, tagging provides valuable information that led to the protection of hammerhead sharks in Florida State waters. 

What side of the issue to you lean on? Let me know in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean. 

The Ocean Cleanup Project has gone through some growing pains over the past couple of weeks including having to tow the device into port because it broke apart at sea.

The critics have come out in droves all over the internet to point out that the Ocean Cleanup Project has dismissed scientific peer reviewed criticism. A new criticism has been put forth and Boyan Slat responded positively while at the same time calling the past criticisms "emotive critiques." The problem with this reaction by Boyan is that the two previous criticisms were written by two women. Was Boyan referring to emotive because they were women?

John Davis and I discuss the backlash and the criticisms of the project and why it's not helping the case of the Ocean Cleanup Project.

Marine Debris Listserv: https://marinedebris.openchannels.org/

Take a listen and share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

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Have you ever tried to change, but little things got in the way. For example, one of my New Year's Resolutions for 2019 was to eat less meat (only 3 times per week). So far, it hasn't gone so well because I haven't planned my meals. When I am hungry, I want to eat everything that is in front of me, so I pick the first thing I see. I won't meet my resolution if I don't change.

I need to plan my meals ahead of time to ensure that I know exactly what I am eating everyday and before every meal. I can't let planning become a little hassle that will prevent me from changing.

Brooke Tully is here to discuss the Little Hassles in our ongoing segment of why people don't do things on "What Is Happening In Conservation Marketing Today?" Listen to what she has to say about how conservationists can get people to change without worrying about the hassles. 

Take a listen and share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

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The Dzawada'enuxw First Nation has filed suits against the Provincial Government (2 suits) and the Federal Government for allowing 10 aquaculture farms in their area that they say infringe on their Aboriginal Rights. 

The First Nation fishes for eulachon and Pacific Wild Salmon to trade with other Indigenous tribes in the area for goods. The farms will harm an already declining populations of both wild species upon which they depend. 

Take a listen and share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

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Ken Balcomb, founding Director of the Centre For Whale Research, and his team have spotted a new Orca Calf on the Eastern end of the Juan de Fuca. This is the first calf since last year after a mother was seen floating her newborn dead calf for 17 days. 

Ken is cautiously optimistic of the calf as he gauges the Orca's chances at about 50% survival due to low salmon populations, increased underwater noise and bioaccumulation of toxins due to plastic ingestion as well as those found in salmon that the animal can find to eat. 

Take a listen and share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

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Have you ever heard of a fatberg? It could be one of the most disgusting things that I have ever seen. A Fatberg is what you get when you combine frozen oil, fats and wet wipes. 

There is a large Fatberg in a coastal town in the UK that is 64 metres long and it's clogging up the sewers. It will take 8 weeks to break it up, according to local authorities. 

This episode is to reinforce the notion that we need to be weary of what we put down our drains. 

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Indonesia has been aggressively fighting illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing domestically since 2014. It has gone as far as sinking foreign vessels that were illegally fishing in Indonesian waters using Navy Forces. The result has been an increase in fish abundance domestically to support its artisanal-based fisheries industry, but there is still more work to be done.

The country is calling for the UN to include Fishing Crimes as part of the Palermo Treaty, which would put it in the same class as human trafficking and other illegal crimes that require international cooperation. Companies that profit from IUU fishing activities never reside in Indonesia. They are located in other countries; therefore, enforcement is often difficult.

It's amazing how far a country has to go to fight IUU fishing activities.

Take a listen and share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

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Over 5000 people were treated for stings from an armada of bluebottle jellyfish last weekend along the Gold and Sunshine Coasts in Queensland, Australia. This totals over 22,000 people stung in the past 5 weeks by the jellyfish colonies. The average number of people treated for jellyfish stings is between 25,000 and 45,000...for all of Australia!!! 

Authorities say they have never seen anything like these numbers in the past. Last year during the same 5 week period, just over 6,000 people were treated for stings. 

Take a listen to find out why these jellyfish are being washed up on the beaches and what you can do to prevent getting stung.

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Brooke Tully is back again with a great segment of "What's Happening in Conservation Marketing." We continue to discuss why people don't do things. We focused this episode on people don't change their behaviours because they can't.

Brooke brings up the fact that people are often asked to change behaviours that may be too expensive and/or not accessible to them. I notice this quite a bit in the Marine Conservation field. However, Brooke has a solution.

Take a listen and share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

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As we start the New Year, it's always good to go over how we can make better choices for the Ocean. The Guardian put out an article on 10 Ways You Can Reduce Our Plastic Use In 2019 and I thought it would be good to run through them. Some ways are easier than others. You might also find that you are doing some of the reductions already, but we can always do more. 

Have a listen and share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com

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Ken Balcomb is THE research expert on Southern Resident Orca Population in the Salish Sea area. Ken has predicted two deaths by summer 2019 based on the state of J17 (female, 42 years-old) and J25 (male, 27 years-old). He says both individuals look skinny compared to recent years and J25 is exhibiting "peanut head", which is a sign of malnutrition as the head is smaller than the rest of the body. 

J17 is the grandmother of the calf that was born last summer (2018) and died a half an hour later. It's mother carried her dead calf for 17 days making international news. Ken suggests J17 probably underwent significant stress watching her daughter grieve her newborn loss for so long. Coupled with lack of food (chinook salmon), the grieving could have made survival difficult for J17.

The Southern Resident Orca population has dwindled to 74 individuals and may lose two or more this year due to a lack of food. Chinook Salmon populations have also declined due to damns blocking rivers, which serve as reproductive habitats for the salmon populations.

Canadian and US governments refuse to make hydro companies remove damns that are not in use anymore to help save the salmon populations within the Salish Sea. Instead, the US government recently approved a bill that will allow the culling of 1000 sea lions as they say the pinnipeds are responsible for the decline in salmon populations in the area.

Listen to the episode to get the full details and find out how the lack of food is changing the Orca population's behaviour.

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There are projects that are happening all over the world with the purpose of trying to either clean up the Ocean of plastic pollution or prevent it from getting into the Ocean.

The Ocean Clean Up Projects Hits Another Snag

The 2000-foot Ocean Clean Up device has broken up into two sections in the Pacific Ocean Gyre. A 60-foot section broke off at one end of the large device in the rough weather in the area. This is the second reported setback the Ocean Clean Up Project has publicly reported. The device will be brought back to port to get fixed before it goes back out.

The Project predicted the device would clean up 50 tons of plastic per year until the 80,000 tons of plastic in the Gyre was cleaned up. According to Boyant Slat, the CEO, the device collected 4,400 lbs of debris since arriving at the Gyre. 

Man Assaults Woman After Asking For a Straw At McDonald's

A viral video of a man grabbing a female McDonald's employee in St. Petersburg, Florida is making its rounds on the web. The man reportedly got mad after asking for a plastic straw. McDonald's new policy is to keep the plastic straws behind the counter in an effort to reduce the amount of straws used at their locations. 

It is not apparent whether the man was mad specifically about the straws or with something else. 

The woman defended herself by striking the man repeatedly until the man let go of her. He is now being charged with assault. The employee is not being charged at this time and is being praised online for defending herself so well.

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Dr. Edward Hind-Ozan joins me on this episode for his segment called "What's Happening In Marine Social Science This Week?" 

This week's topic looks at the intersection between Marine Biology and Marine Social Science. We discuss a study where researchers studies the effects of toxins from microplastics on periwinkles and their inability to hide from predators. Ed highlights the fact that the study shows the importance of understanding marine biology to realize the conflict humans are having on the Ocean.

Listen to the podcast for more details and while Marine Biology and Marine Social Science need to crosspaths more.

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Aquaman is a great movie to watch when you are a Marine Biologist. To be perfectly honest, as a marine biologist, I wish I had some of Aquaman's powers to I can swim through the Ocean without coming up for air, but I digress. 

I was happy to take my oldest daughter to see Aquaman in hopes to be entertained. The movie did not disappoint. I was quite happy with the way the movie addressed some pressing conservation issues. 

Take a listen to the episode to find out which issues Aquaman covered. 

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The opening of the Northwest Passage due to melting ice from climate change provides an opportunity to businesses to use the shipping lane as a way to ship products to the Arctic for various business needs. It could be a great way for the local community to get their goods delivered to them when the shipping lane is open; however, whether the local communities will get priority over big business is another question.

The local communities did not get priority over the mining companies this past fall as shipping needs were met; however, the local communities failed to get their shipping needs met due to poor ice conditions. The shipping company did not plan their shipment accordingly and delayed the delivery, which the trip eventually failed due to the shipping lans being blocked by ice.

I make my opinion known in this episode about how local communities are getting left out of opportunities over big business that only leave short term economic benefits in exchange for large profits.

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The Conservation community is feeling optimistic after a Northern Right Whale Calf was spotted in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of St. John's River along the border of Florida and Georgia. This is great news as this is the first time a Northern Right Whale calf has been spotted in over a year. 

A Promising 2018 After A Tough 2017

There were 17 deaths in 2017 (12 in Canada and 5 in the US) due to fishing gear entanglement or ship strikes. Those are not great numbers for the Endangered population as there are an estimated 411 individuals remaining with less than 100 reproductive females. 

This past year was better as there were no recorded deaths Northern Right Whales meaning management measures in Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence are working.

Not Out Of The Woods Yet

The evidence this new calf brings to the conservation community is terrific; however, the species is not out of the woods yet. Northern Right Whales used to have approximately 20 or more calves per season; therefore, one calf does not show a sustainable population.

The fact remains that the Northern Right Whale population is still prone to ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement and now a new pressure has been thrusted upon them: oil and gas exploration. 

The US Government recently approved exploration within the US EEZ that is within the migration route of the Northern Right Whale Migration Route. Oil and Gas exploration includes the use of seismic instrumentation to detect oil pockets below ground at the bottom of the continental shelf. The noise emitted by the seismic surveys are harmful to the hearing of many whales, which can affect their hearing. 

Whales rely on their hearing to listen for instructions from the rest of their pods communicating with them for detecting food, danger and other important social cues. 

The conservation community is optimistic by this new calf; however, we know that there is still a long way to go to improve the population.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

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